COP 16 comes to a close, now what, the US administration makes a key appointment to the DOE’s Nuclear Energy Team, guess how many lights have recently been replaced in Starbucks stores.

COP 16 Recap

The end of COP 16, which took place in Cancun, Mexico, has shown that many countries are willing to revamp their efforts towards a sustainable world. Participants of the climate change conference have agreed to give $100 billion to developing countries for carbon emission programs. And 138 Mayors from around the world have signed the Mexico City Pact, which will help cities lower their carbon emissions through a new monitoring and verification process called the “carbon Cities Climate Registry” (cCCR). Not everyone was pleased with the results. The Bolivian delegation has publicly expressed their frustration over the lack of discussion and dialogue for the Kyoto Protocol, which will expire in 2012. But overall, the conference will be viewed as a more successful event than last year’s event in Copenhagen. Next years Climate Summit will take place in South Africa.

US Administration Makes Key Appointment To DOE’s Nuclear Energy Team

President Obama has appointed Dr. Peter B. Lyons to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy. Lyons has been the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Nuclear Energy since 2009. In 2003, Lyons served as the Science Advisor on the staff of Senator Pete Domenici. In that post, he focused on civilian uses of nuclear technology and national science policy. Lyons also worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and has published more than 100 technical papers. He is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and a Fellow of the American Physical Society.President Obama is optimistic of his appointment for the months ahead at the DOE.

Starbucks Improves Lighting in Stores

With Christmas around the corner, it is hard not to trip over a roll of holiday lights. The new LED lights can make a large difference in energy costs as compared to older incandescent bulbs. The difference can be especially obvious if analyzed in a large scope. For instance, Starbucks stores have completed replacing lights in 7,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. Their Director of Environmental Impact stated that the program is set to reduce lighting energy consumption by 80 percent. Each 1,000 square foot store saves $600 annually and the lights cut total energy consumption by 7 percent.

Where’s the Largest Solar Tracker Located?

IMO, a Germany-based corporation, has revealed the largest solar tracker in South Carolina. The giant metallic square spans 1614 square feet and follows the movements of the sun to capture the most amount energy possible. The structure stands at a towering 53 feet and has a performance rating of 22.5-kW. It will be used to power IMO’s neighboring warehouse and cut energy costs by generating 42,000-kwh of electricity per year. The tracker will offset much of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by traditional coal-generated power.

Growth at the Deepwater Wind Energy Center

A Rhode Island wind Farm project dubbed the Deepwater Wind Energy Center has expanded to more than double its original size. The project has become a 200-turbine, 1,000-MW initiative. It may even beat Cape Wind as the first and largest offshore wind farm in America. The wind farm will be 18 miles into the Rhode Island Sound off the coast of the state. Deepwater says the larger project will increase the cost to $6 billion, but the cost of the electricity will decrease. Previously, National Grid was paying 24.4 cents per kWh; under the new plan, it will cost 18.7 cents.